(From left) Roundtable moderator Bill Leighty, professor of practice with the Virginia Tech Center for Public Administration and Policy and former chief of staff for Virginia governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, leads a discussion with panelists Chris Yianilos, director of Federal Relations at Virginia Tech and former deputy chief of staff for Sen. John Warner; Peggy Kerns, director of the National Conference of State Legislatures Center for Ethics in Government and former minority leader in the Colorado House of Representatives; and attorney Chris DeLacy with Holland & Knight's Political Law Group and former counsel for Sen. John Warner.

WINTER 2012-13

Rising Tides, Sinking Coast

In the face of rising sea levels and increasingly frequent major storms, Virginia's coastal communities must plan for the future. Take a closer look at the science behind the rising water and the remedies and costs involved in protecting the commonwealth. By Carlton Hershner and Molly Mitchell, Center for Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary

Spiraling Debt

Based on forums on debt and economic security held around the commonwealth, how do citizens view debt? What programs are they willing to cut? Such knowledge should empower policymakers to tackle the growing problem.
By Larkin Dudley, Virginia Tech

Smarter Grids

Recent severe storms and massive power outages in the commonwealth have illuminated the need for Virginia's utility providers and policymakers to consider the latest methods for creating more robust energy systems — systems with less down time and faster recovery from major outages. By Robert Broadwater, Virginia Tech

The Medicaid Expansion in Virginia

With the largest portions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act yet to take effect, Virginia will have to work fast to implement the changes and adapt to the new law. Consider the options, the benefits, and the drawbacks of the act in Virginia. By Ward Stevens, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Uranium Mining in Virginia

New interest has caused an old debate — on uranium mining and milling in Virginia — to resurface. Virginia Issues & Answers asked four experts to offer their perspectives on what uranium mining would look like in the commonwealth if the long-standing moratorium is lifted.

VIA archives

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Virginia Issues & Answers (VIA), a public policy forum published by the Office of University Relations as an outreach service of Virginia Tech, seeks to create awareness of the issues facing the commonwealth and to explore options for resolving those issues. Positioned as a thought leader in the commonwealth, VIA is comprised of articles penned by subject-matter experts based in academia, agencies, and think tanks across Virginia. Reaching policymakers at all levels of the public and private sectors, the publication examines topics relevant to the commonwealth's current public policy agenda and expedites the analysis, formulation, and implementation of policy.

About VIA

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